First Book-Portland Grants

Posted:

1/18/13

Updated:

1/18/13

First Book-Portland, OR is currently accepting grant applications from local nonprofit organizations serving children in need. Teachers and directors of local preschools, child care centers, after-school programs, tutoring and mentoring programs are encouraged to apply for grants to purchase new books to give to the children in their programs.

Organizations receiving grants will purchase books from First Book warehouses at deeply discounted prices—currently averaging $2.50 for a new book. Organizations then distribute one book per month for up to six months to each child participating in its program enabling children to establish their own home libraries to share with their siblings and families. Each book will include a book nameplate to allow the children to celebrate the importance of book ownership. Book grants are made possible through local fundraising efforts by the First Book-Portland, Oregon Advisory Board and the support of First Book National.

NUMBER OF BOOKS

Grants awards may vary; applicants are invited to request small grants of up to $1,500. The number of books provided to approved applicants is determined by the request outlined in the application, the funds and books available to the Advisory Board, and the number of applications submitted.

ELIGIBILITY

The book grants support existing community-based mentoring, tutoring, and family literacy programs. Organizations applying for books from First Book are required to:

● Incorporate reading as a part of your program activities.

● Serve programs where at least 80% of your youth come from low-income families or are a Title I or Title I eligible school – provided that these programs serve at least 50% of children from low-income families.

● Ensure that the books received through the grant become the personal property of participating youth and books go home with the children. This should be accomplished through multiple disbursements within a six-month timeframe.

● Integrate the First Book books given to children into your curriculum or lesson plans.

● Support participating youth's ongoing education outside of the school classroom setting.

● Not discriminate against individuals based on race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, religion or physical or mental disability.

● Submit a final evaluation – At the end of the six-month grant period, grant recipients must complete a final evaluation report.

● Register Online – Before becoming eligible to receive books through the First Book National Book Bank or the First Book Marketplace, new groups – defined as programs that have never received books from First Book – must register online at http://www.firstbook.org/register.

TO APPLY FOR A GRANT:

1) If you are not yet registered with First Book, please visit www.firstbook.org and register. (Click on the “Receive Books” tab and then the “Register Now” button.)

2) Completely fill out the grant application by Friday, March 1, 2013. Grant applications can be found at website below. If you cannot access the applications online, please contact Stacy Owen at bigcityblinking@live.com for assistance.

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Through vision, leadership, and service, the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) works to integrate arts and culture in all aspects of community life. RACC serves the Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Region, including Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties.